Archive
July 30, 2009 - 8:48 am
That’s right – I’m blogging for a magazine!
Launched just this week, Natural Home Magazine has a new blog, titled Green Decor and Design. I’m honored to be one of the bloggers they chose for this addition to their already-fantastic website.
My first weekly “Eco-Decor Delights” post went live yesterday. Please take a second to click over to the blog and say hello!
Have a favorite eco-decor company or product? (anything from cleaning products and room accessories to furniture and artwork) Leave a comment & let me know about it – I just might feature them in an upcoming “Eco-Decor Delights” entry. 
July 29, 2009 - 1:15 pm
Another visit to the library, another book I want to buy for my very own.
My adoration for Country Living Magazine is indefinite, so it didn’t come as a surprise that I highly enjoyed their newest book: Simple Country Wisdom by Susan Waggoner.
The title pretty much says it all – the book is full of random, simple but uber-useful tips for every part of your home. Starting off slow at first, I was worried my adoration of Country Living was waning. After the first 3 chapters, encompassed in a section called “The Home that Welcomes”, the book gets more specific, offering advice for cleaning, laundry, cooking, baking, general kitchen organization and more. These are the kinds of tips you’d get from your grandmother or great-grandmother … things that seem so basic, they escape us daily.
More than a few times, I started to reach for my highlighter, until I remembered I had rented the book from the library to “test drive” it. Well, the book is great and there are more than enough tips in it to make it worthy of plunking down $19.95 for it. Country Living Simple Country Wisdom will be a handy reference guide for me (and probably you) as the months, years, and decades continue to roll past. No matter the era, simple is best.
(For Country Living’s other 68 books [holy crap!], visit the Sterling Publishing website.)
July 27, 2009 - 12:23 pm
This is another major milestone for my writing career!
Yoga Journal’s September 2009 issue includes my first feature-length article in a major magazine (sold on newsstands nationwide).
I’m truly beside myself right now. As an added bonus, I’m touched that my editor was able to get my new (married) name on the piece. Within the next 2 weeks, the issue will be on newsstands – pick up a copy & show support for one of your favorite writers! 
AHOY! DOWN HERE! Visit my writing portfolio for a sneak peak at “How Green is Your Studio?“
July 24, 2009 - 1:04 pm
[These two were meant to be together.]
[Some classics never fall from grace. (a Collinsville, CT hotel; built in 1868; now divided into condos)]
[Every stove has a hundred stories.]
[Some things are better the old-fashioned way. (our new mortal & pestle, used to grind flax seeds for our morning smoothies)]
[Come and stay while - we've got room to spare. (our newly-assembled guest bed, already "broken-in" by our cat)]
[All photos taken by Victoria Klein]
July 20, 2009 - 6:50 pm
You read that right – I’m having a sale in my Etsy shop. But not just any sale … a one-day-only sale!
I’ve got extra 5×7 photo prints from craft fairs & it’s time to clear out my stock.
+ THE DEAL(s)! +
ALL PRINTS ARE ON SALE for $4/each (normally $6/each), so you’ll save on ANY purchase.
If you BUY 3 PRINTS, you get ONE FREE! (identify which free print you’d like in the “comments” section during the checkout process)
If you BUY 6 PRINTS (which includes 2 free prints!), you get FREE SHIPPING!
+ Details +
I only have 11 5×7 PRINTS of each photo featured in the store, so shop soon before they are sold out.
All prints are ready-to-ship, so your order will be in the mail before Friday, July 24th.
VITAL!: This deal expires at 12am EST, Wednesday, July 22nd!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Many big THANK YOUS to the two ladies who helped promote my Etsy sale (though it was a total bust):
+ Scoutie Girl (via Twitter)
+ Bonnie @ the Going Home to Roost blog
- 8:55 am
Ahoy & welcome to issue #189 of the Carnival of the Green, a weekly round-up of eco-news on the web, originally conceived by Treehugger.com.
This is my first time hosting Carnival of the Green here on my new blog at VictoriaKlein.net. You might remember me “doing the deed” three times on my old blog at Victoria-E.com.
Before we begin, let’s hear a round of applause for last week’s COTG host, Kids Discover Nature – y’all rock! Make sure you check back next week and say “HI” to Greener Pastures, host for the week of July 27th, 2009.
Easy Ways to Make your Home More Eco-Friendly from Free Organic News: We all want to do our part to protect the environment, but without a large paycheck, that can be seem difficult, if not impossible. But doing your part doesn’t have to be hard. Small steps add up to a big difference, you just have to know which ones to take.
Car Trip Carbon Credits from Traveling Mamas: A short list of reputable companies from which one can purchase carbon offsets for a road trip vacation.
How to Make Fried Zucchini (with pictures) from Homesteader Belle
Cash in on the Cash for Clunkers Program from Frugally Green: If your old, gas-guzzling auto is about to take a dirt nap, you may be interested to know that the US Government will soon be offering an incentive up to $4,500 to buy a new, more efficient vehicle. Read this article to find out more about program and what you’ll need to know to take advantage of it.
Green Champs and Chumps from Dame Scribe: Learn about a supporting ensemble to promote green and global wellness.
Cardboard Furniture Links from Craft Stew: I’m constantly amazed by all the things that can be done with a material that most people consider nothing but trash.
Recycled Plarn Backpack Pattern from My Recycled Bags: This wonderful upcycled backpack is a great way to repurpose those old plastic bags into something new.
Female Hyenas, All Hermaphrodites, Bully Males and Lions from Veggie Revolution: Hyenas play an important role in the ecology of Africa’s savannas; they’re the second most powerful carnivore on the continent. Did you know that female hyenas are all hermaphrodites? The females’ high testosterone levels might explain why they dominate the males, and are aggressive enough to steal prey from lions.
Save Money on Food: Grow Your Own! from True Adventures in Money Hacking
Giving Birth … from The Birdcouple: Birthing big healthy vegetables without the use of pesticides.
12 Strategies to Save Money on Organics from The Conscious Shopper
Save Money and Benefit with Homemade Products from Moolanomy Personal Finance: Learn how to grow and make your own stuff is a great way to help the environment, and a great way to save money as well. Here’s a couple’s story of how they are doing it.
Tips For Saving Money – The Frugal Mindset from The Smarter Wallet
20 Ways for Renters to Stay Cool and Save Money this Summer from Lighter Footstep: More people are renting than ever. But most energy saving tips are geared to homeowners. If you rent and want to cool down your summer power bill, start here!
Joey Totes Reusable Bags Give-Away from Fake Plastic Fish: When it comes to reusable shopping bags, the best choice is to use and reuse the bags we already have. But sometimes we need a little help. Joey Totes are great for those of us who tend to forget to bring our bags or leave them in the car. I’m giving away a set of 3 Joey Totes on Fake Plastic Fish this week. There’s still time to enter the drawing.
July 16, 2009 - 4:15 pm
Yoga Journal Magazine has, yet again, introduced me to a fantastic illustrator. I’ve been swooning over Andrea Cobb’s work ever since I spotted the following creation in YJ’s August 2009 issue:
After living in NYC for a decade, Andrea is now doodling in North Carolina (tidbit: I love NC & visited often as a kid). By looking at many of her nature-inspired images & eco-themed pieces, it’s clear that she has a noted appreciation for Mother Nature – yet another reason to love her!
Need more? She did a large collection of works for Whole Foods a few years ago, some of which I recognize from my first shopping trips to their stores.Also, you might recognize her work from the great book, Secrets of Simplicity by Mary Carlomagno.
With one tattoo by Rubens LP & another planned, I could easily see myself getting a tattoo of Andrea’s work (I’ll keep you posted on this) – maybe one of her fruit or garden pieces?
[T-shirt designs that have yet to be printed; would love to see it in organic cotton.]
If you enjoy Andrea’s art as much as I do, then you’ll be overjoyed to know that she DOES sell prints of all her pieces – hooray! She should open an Etsy shop; I bet it would do quite well.
[All images courtesy of Andrea Cobb]
July 14, 2009 - 11:19 am
Longing for more details about my May 12th wedding? The awesome folks over at The Green Bride Guide (great book, by the way – I’ve got a copy on my bookcase) recently did a feature on our nuptials.
As you would expect, I included all of the eco-friendly details from our big day. 
July 10, 2009 - 8:31 pm
Between working with new clients & getting used to cycling again, I’ve continued to experiment with my new digital camera. Nature photography is my specialty, but my interests also lie in interiors, lifestyle, food, & still life images. As I expand my talents into these other visual genres, I’ll be taking you along for the ride.
The two shots I’ve included in this post are part of venturing into those new territories.
(My favorite glass + my favorite drink [water] + my imperfect back porch) x just the right angle = this nifty shot.
Ecstatic to be trying out the uber-eco-friendly Suki Pure skincare line, starting today. (Stay tuned for a review next month!) I couldn’t resist having a go at shooting the bottles – this was my favorite of the 30 or so images I shot.
July 9, 2009 - 9:43 am
Most of us have that favorite piece in our wardrobe that we wish we had in every color of the rainbow. For me, that’s Stewart+Brown’s collection of Lengthened Tees.
There’s so much to love about them:
+ 100% organic cotton
+ Lightweight & easily layered
+ Mid-thigh length
+ Raw hems
+ Available in 3 sleeve lengths (long, 1/2 sleeve, & short-sleeve)
+ Available in 6-12 different colors & patterns which change each season
I can’t say enough good things about them … except the prices, of course ($76, $73, & $62). A simple web search will often turn up discount codes for the brand’s online store – you can almost always save a little on your order.
